Nautilus’ ‘smart’ dumbbells earn Red Dot award

Vancouver’s Nautilus Inc. got a lift this week when its Bowflex SelectTech 560 Dumbbells were given the prestigious Red Dot Award for its Best of the Best design.

The SelectTech 560 weights — which are not yet on sale — are “smart dumbbells.” They are programmable and include an interactive digital trainer, building on earlier SelectTech models.

“Our goal … was to revolutionize a product our customers already trusted by incorporating advanced technology to further meet their strength-training needs,” said Nautilus Vice President Tom Moran in a press release Thursday. “This honor shows we’re committed to designing products that deliver results and motivate our customers to live healthy lives.”

The announcement marks the second Vancouver-based company to receive a Red Dot this year. Sigma Design on Wednesday said its Lightspeed Tango Aviation Headset received the accolade as well.

It’s also the second Red Dot for a Nautilus product — the Bowflex Max Trainer took one home last year.

The design awards are decided yearly by a team of international judges. This year’s competition saw 1,300 winners out of 5,200 entries from 57 countries, though just 79 products, including the dumbbells, grabbed the Best of the Best distinction.